SEATTLE (AP) - The National Weather Service is warning of avalanches on the west slopes of the Cascades in Washington and Oregon Thursday morning because of heavy snow and rain in the mountains.
Forecasters say wet, loose slabs of snow could avalanche in the area that includes Mount Hood and Mount Rainier. Hikers and climbers are advised to stay out of the back country.
More mountain snow is falling as the latest storm moves into the Northwest.
Seattle is close to breaking a rainfall record this spring.
The Weather Service says the Seattle precipitation record from Feb. 1 through April 30 is 18.97 inches set in 1972. As of 4 a.m. Thursday, the total this year was 18.91 inches.
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